Apparatus and method of dissolving a gas into a liquid

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for dissolving gas in a liquid is provided. The process comprises: tangentially introducing a liquid into a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall with sufficient volume and pressure to develop a vortex in the flowing liquid; introducing gas into the flowing liquid during at least a portion of its travel along vessel, the gas being introduced orthogonally to the stream through means located at the chamber inner wall for developing gas bubbles within the liquid. The apparatus comprises: a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, the chamber being oriented in any direction enclosed at both ends and with an entry port to introduce liquid to develop a spiral flow of liquid along the chamber inner wall toward the output end, a porous wall to permit the introduction of gas orthogonally into the stream to develop gas bubbles within the stream, and an exit port to discharge the mixture of gas bubbles and liquid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to process and apparatus for dissolving gas efficiently in the liquid phase by creating and maintaining conditions for maximizing the contact surface between gas and liquid in the form of gas bubbles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As readers skilled in the art will recognize, this invention has a wide range of application. The following example of aeration is for illustrative purposes only, and does not suggest that the invention is restricted to this application. Details of the separation vessel may vary; however, the essence of the invention and the underlying methodology remains constant: using turbulent circular flow inside the porous tube to sheer off small bubbles of gas to maximize contact surface and enhance the process of dissolving gas into a liquid.

Aeration plays important roles in many industries where process efficiency depends on a concentration of oxygen in the processed liquid; i.e. Brewing, Environmental services: waste water treatment, Farming and Fishery, or Mineral Processing.

Traditional methods of creating conditions for aeration include the use of simple aerated tanks, spray towers, bubble tray columns, and packed columns to create a gas-liquid interface. Traditional technology uses counter current, multiple stages for the gas to be absorbed. While these traditional methods and associated apparatus do achieve aeration, they are inefficient, requiring long processing times and hence large equipment volumes. The inefficiency associated with the traditional prior art approaches arises largely from the relatively low gas-liquid interfacial area to volumes provided by the equipment.

It has been suggested that improved aeration performance may be achieved through the use of an air-sparged hydrocyclone similar to designs used in the mineral processing industry for separation of solid particles from an aqueous suspension. Examples of particle separation methods and apparatus may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,279,743; 4,397,741; 4,399,027; 4,744,890; 4,838,434; and 4,997,549; 5,192,423. Each of these references is specifically based upon the concept of passing bubbles of air through a suspension of solid particles so that hydrophobic particles attach to air bubbles and form a cohesive froth that may be removed from the separation vessel. The apparatus design are concerned with the creation of gas-liquid contact conditions favorable for efficient particle to bubble interaction and separation with mass transfer.

In addition, various methods of and apparatus for removing volatile content (VCs) from water and other liquids have been known and used in the prior art for a number of years. One of the traditional approaches, generally referred to as “air stripping”, removes VCs from a contaminated liquid by passing a stream of clean air or other gas through the water or other liquid so that VCs transfer from the liquid to the gas and may be removed from the system with the exiting gas. Examples of using swirling motion and a porous tube for such approach can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,529,701, 5,531,904—Grisham T. et al. The operating parameters of the method described by Grisham are selected to optimize the overall efficiency of both mass transfer between gas dissolved in the liquid phase and gas passing through the liquid. The flow rate of liquid in the Grisham method needs to be set to produce centrifugal force fields with radial accelerations between 400 Gs up to about 1500 Gs compared to accelerations of about 70 G used for particle separation.

In general, the method described by Grisham, dynamically mixes gas bubbles with liquid (thereby rapidly replenishing the supply of molecules of the transferring component in immediate proximity to the gas-liquid interface and minimizing mass diffusion limitations on transfer rate), optimizes the contact time between bubbles and liquid (thereby allowing material transfer to reach or closely approach equilibrium), and cleanly separates post-contact gas and liquid streams (thereby minimizing regressive transfer). The Grisham's objective is to maximize gas velocity flowing through the liquid and diverting both phases (liquid and gas) at the apparatus exit. If a large volume of gas passes through the unit of liquid then mass transfer of gas dissolved in liquid into passing gas is maximized increasing overall gas stripping efficiency. Grisham apparatus works in the regime of very high Gs promoting movement of gas from liquid to gas—but not in reverse.

It is generally assumed that diffusion of gas across an interfacial contact area is instantaneous, but the actual rate of transfer is subject to various limiting factors. In most cases the rate of gas diffusion into the liquid is always favored by maximizing the interfacial area relative to liquid and gas volumes, which means that the key is in generating very small diameter bubbles with narrow size distribution. When very small bubble size and narrow size distribution is achieved then a high gas to liquid volume ratio is achieved. The smaller the bubble, the bigger the gas volume that can be packed into the unit volume with a correspondingly larger surface area. The liquid occupies only voids between highly packed gas bubble spheres and a ratio of up to 50:1 gas to liquid can be achieved. The process of generating bubbles is dynamic and equilibrium must be achieved between creation of new bubbles and bubbles coalescing into bigger ones. The time of interaction must be maximized which puts limitations on the gas velocity.

Inventive discoveries related to the present invention include that —optimum bubble size distribution can be only achieved if a porous tubular housing with mean pores size—below 100 microns is used for the gas diffuser. It has also been discovered that optimum conditions exist for a given range of G forces and Reynolds number for turbulence of flow, which impart limitations on flow rates and the diameter of diffuser. High Reynolds numbers promote maintaining small bubble size and so prevent bubble coalescence by ripping apart all bubbles bigger than eddies in the flow. However, too high G force quickly moves bubbles to the centre due to the buoyancy of the bubbles. Once at the centre, the flow becomes coaxial with consequently drastically lower Reynolds number and bubbles coalescence that rapidly lowers interfacial contact surface area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Creating conditions where enhanced gas diffusion into the liquid can be achieved and maintained in a practical manner is the objective of the present invention.

The present invention provides a method of enhanced dissolving of gas into the liquid stream. The present invention takes into account the significant differences between the physical mechanisms involved in the three processes of the separation of particles from aqueous slurry, the extraction of chemical contaminants from a liquid stream, and dissolving gas into a liquid phase. Although all three processes may utilize swirling flow and gas permeating through a porous tube, the fundamental difference is in the direction of the mass transfer, values of a centrifugal field and relative flow ratios. In mineral processing, the objective is to move solids from liquid phase to froth phase where bubbles are the carrier. In gas stripping, the objective is to transfer gas dissolved in liquid phase into the passing gas shaped as bubbles, which should be moved as quickly as possible through the liquid phase.

The present invention creates enhanced conditions for dissolving gas into the liquid phase, including bubble size, and bubble size distribution and duration of interaction with liquid which play a significant role in overall performance of gas diffusion into liquid.

The present invention addresses these requirements by combining several elements:

-   -   high turbulence swirling flow of liquid;     -   orthogonal flow of liquid and gas;     -   constant pressure inside the vessel;     -   optimum flow velocity generating centrifugal forces within the         100 to 300 Gs thereby extending diffusion rate within the vessel         of apparatus; and     -   very small pores, through which gas permeates into in the liquid         and is sheered off into liquid phase thereby forming small         bubbles.

Moreover, in contrast to prior art vessels; the pressure inside the present invention's vessel can be constant when the vessel is substantially enclosed even with entry and exit ports. The bubbles, as they travel along the vessel, do not expand due to a pressure drop, and with increasing velocity along the interior wall of the vessel, the turbulence increases, further preventing bubble coalescence.

The above combination of design and operational elements creates an environment for enhanced efficient process of gas diffusion into liquid.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a process consists of the following steps:

-   -   i) introducing a stream of liquid into a cylindrical chamber         having a cylindrical inner wall, the chamber being oriented in         any direction and enclosed at both ends, the stream being         introduced near a first, or input, end, of the chamber in a         manner to develop a spiral flow of liquid along the chamber         inner wall toward the second, or output, end,     -   ii) introducing gas into the stream during at least a portion of         the stream's travel, the gas being introduced to the stream         orthogonally through means located at the chamber inner wall for         developing gas bubbles which move into the stream, so the         swirling stream resides in the chamber for sufficient time to         permit a diffusion of gas into the liquid stream,     -   iii) introducing the stream in sufficient volume and pressure to         develop a vortex in the liquid which extends along the chamber,         and     -   iv) allowing the swirling mixture of liquid and gas to exit the         vessel at the output end.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus consists of:

-   -   i) a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, the         chamber being oriented in any direction and enclosed at both         ends,     -   ii) an entry port near a first, or input, end of the chamber to         permit introduction of a stream of liquid into the chamber in a         manner to develop a spiral flow of the liquid along the chamber         inner wall toward the second, or output, end; and such entry         port in the form of a tangential header allowing the         introduction of the stream in sufficient volume and pressure to         develop a vortex in the liquid which extends along the chamber,     -   iii) a gas entry port, that allows gas to be introduced         orthogonally to the stream through means located at the chamber         inner wall for developing gas bubbles which move into the         stream,     -   iv) the chamber being of a length sufficient to provide         residence time in the chamber to permit a diffusion of gas,     -   v) an exit port allowing the swirling mixture of liquid and gas         to exit the vessel, at the output end, and     -   vi) a system of valves and actuators which stops the flow of the         liquid in case of a gas pressure drop to stop the flow of liquid         into the chamber in order to prevent liquid from permeating         through a porous tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be further understood by reference to the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for dissolving gas in a liquid.

FIG. 2 is a section along the lines AA of the chamber for introducing gas bubbles into the swirling slurry in apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with an alternate exit port 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment and its operation are described. Apparatus 1 comprises a cylindrical chamber 2, which when in use can be inclined although the cylindrical chamber can be oriented in any direction. The liquid to be introduced into the apparatus 1 is directed in the direction of arrow 3 through conduit 4 and into chamber 2 via entry port 4 x that is positioned tangentially relative to chamber 2 forming a liquid stream 15. The lower end 5 of chamber 2 is closed so that liquid stream 15 flows in the direction of arrow 7 toward exit port 6 located at the output end, which exit port 6 in turn can be oriented or of such size and shape as to discharge liquid stream 15 along various angles outside chamber 2 such as directly or tangentially as shown.

As liquid stream 15 progresses along the inner surface of chamber 2, gas is introduced orthogonally into the liquid through porous wall 11.

Located circumferentially of the cylindrical chamber 2 is a plenum 8. Pressurized gas is introduced into plenum 8 in the direction of arrow 9 through inlet 10. Pressurized gas enters chamber 2 through porous wall 11 to develop gas bubbles within the liquid as it flows along the inner surface 12 of chamber 2.

It is appreciated that a variety of gas introduction mechanisms may be provided to communicate with the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber. For purposes of description and illustration of the particular embodiment of FIG. 1, plenum 8 envelops a porous wall 1. Plenum 8 is defined by an outer shell 13, which encloses the hollow cylinder of porous wall 11. Porous wall 11 is flush with inner surface 12 to define a continuing inner surface. Gas is introduced through tube 10 and pressurizes the interior of plenum 8 whereby gas then permeates through the porous wall 11 to develop gas bubbles within liquid stream 15. Sufficient pressure is developed in plenum 8 to cause the gas within to diffuse through porous wall 11 in the direction of arrows 14 circumferentially of chamber 2 to thereby orthogonally introduce gas into flowing liquid stream 15.

Constant pressure can be maintained within chamber 2 when it is substantially enclosed even with entry port 4 x and exit port 6.

In an alternate embodiment, a liquid stream can be introduced through an entry port in sufficient volume and at sufficient velocity to develop a vortex, generally designated 16.

In an alternate embodiment, liquid stream 15 can be introduced with optimum flow velocity to generate centrifugal forces of the vortex 16 within the range of 100 to 300 Gs to extend the diffusion rate within chamber 2 of apparatus 1.

As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the pressure of gas in plenum 8 may be sensed by sensor 17. Sensor 17 can provide output, which is connected to controller 18 via input line 19. Controller 18 has output via line 20 to servo control valve 21. By standard feedback techniques controller 18 opens and closes valve 21 in case of pressure drop so as to stop the flow of liquid into the chamber in order to prevent the liquid from permeating through the porous wall 11 into plenum 8.

As liquid stream 15 flows along inner wall 12 of chamber 2, more and more gas bubbles are introduced into liquid stream 15 and the gas displaces more liquid. The ratio of the flow rates of liquid and gas into chamber 2, the length of the porous wall, and its permeability can be kept in balance by constant pressure within chamber 2 such that when the mixture of gas bubbles and liquid developed within liquid stream 15 reaches exit port 6 of chamber 2, the mixture of liquid stream 15 has a flow characteristic of liquid and not froth. The exit velocity of liquid stream 15 is significantly higher than the velocity of the liquid entering chamber 2.

With reference to FIG. 2, the development and incorporation or inclusion of gas bubbles in the liquid stream according to the aforesaid embodiments is described. In operation, pressurized gas in plenum 22 permeates through fine mesh 23 to develop at the mesh inner surface minute bubbles 24. The previously introduced liquid stream develops a thickness 25 circumferentially around the inner wall of the chamber as the liquid stream flows along inner wall of mesh 23. The vortex of the liquid stream extends centrally of the cylindrical chamber along the longitudinal axis of the chamber. Gas is introduced through fine mesh 23, encounters the liquid stream orthogonally, and is sheared into numerous bubbles by the high velocity swirl of the liquid imparted by the vortex. The bubble generation mechanism accomplished with fine mesh 23 is a two-stage process. First, gas migrates through the micro channels of the fine mesh, or porous wall. When leaving the pore, gas creates a small cavity. The cavity grows until the gas encounters the liquid stream orthogonally and the shearing force of the flowing liquid is greater than the cavity's surface tension holding it at the pore. In the second stage, once a bubble is sheared off from the surface of the fine mesh, or porous wall, it begins to flow, and then flows, with the liquid as the liquid is carried by turbulent flow. Fine mesh 23, which constitutes the porous portion of the chamber wall, may be constructed of a variety of known materials. The fine mesh, or porous wall may be a screen product having rigidity and which defines a reasonably smooth surface to maintain swirling flow of the liquid. A variety of screen meshes are available which will provide such porosity. Other materials include sintered porous materials of metal oxides that have the necessary structural strength yet provide a relatively smooth surface. It is appreciated that other forms of porous materials are available such as sintered, porous, stainless steel of controlled porosity, for example, stainless steel of grade/type 316LSS.

In an alternate embodiment, the mean pore size of the fine mesh or porous wall is no greater than 100 microns.

With reference to FIG. 3, in an alternate embodiment, exit port 6 can be of such size and shape as to discharge liquid stream 15 directly outside chamber 2 as effectively as if the output end of the chamber were open.

EXAMPLE

The apparatus was used to aerate a fishpond at Tim Layton's Pond at Rimbey, Alberta, Canada for 94 hours. It pumped approximately 850 cubic meters with 1:3 water to air ratio. The measurements of the dissolved oxygen were taken every 8 hours. The initial 2.76 ppm (mg/l), DO (dissolved oxygen) raised linearly to 6.62 ppm (mg/l) DO.

The foregoing description, and the embodiments described therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples of particular embodiments of principles and aspects of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention.

Although the above description and accompanying drawings relate to specific preferred embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated by the inventor, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A process for diffusing gas bubbles in a liquid, said process comprising: i) introducing a stream of said liquid into a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, and enclosed at a first end, said stream being introduced tangentially at an input zone near said first end of said chamber in a manner to develop a spiral flow of said stream along said cylindrical inner wall toward an opposite, output end of said chamber, ii) introducing gas into said stream during at least a portion of its travel in said chamber, said gas being introduced to said stream orthogonally through means located at said chamber inner wall for developing gas bubbles which move into said stream, iii) controlling the flow of liquid and gas bubbles so that a ratio of liquid flow rate to gas bubble flow rate does not exceed values which convert liquid into froth, iv) said chamber being of a length sufficient to provide a residence time in said chamber which permits a diffusion of said gas in said liquid, and v) allowing a mixture of liquid and gas bubbles to exit said chamber near said output end.
 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said stream is introduced in sufficient volume and pressure to develop a vortex in said liquid extending along said chamber from end to end.
 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein a velocity of said stream is set to develop a vortex that achieves centrifugal forces within a range of 100-300 G's.
 4. A process according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is open at its output end such that said mixture of liquid and gas bubbles directly exits said chamber at said output end.
 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is enclosed at said output end such that said mixture of liquid and gas bubbles exits said chamber through a tangential exit port disposed near said chamber's output end.
 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein said process is achieved when said chamber is oriented in any and all directions.
 7. A process according to claim 1, wherein said step of introducing gas involves introducing said gas through a porous portion of said cylindrical inner wall, and wherein said porous portion comprises a porosity with a mean pore size of no greater than 100 microns.
 8. A process according to claim 1, wherein as said gas bubbles travel through said chamber they do not expand due to a pressure drop.
 9. A process according to claim 1, wherein a velocity and a turbulence of said stream increases as it moves towards said chamber's output end.
 10. A process for diffusing gas bubbles in a liquid, the process comprising: i) introducing a stream of liquid into a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, and enclosed at a first end, the stream being introduced tangentially at an input zone near the first end of the chamber in a manner to develop a spiral flow of the stream along the cylindrical inner wall toward an opposite, output end of the chamber, ii) introducing gas into the stream during at least a portion of its travel in the chamber, the gas being introduced to the stream orthogonally through a porous portion of the cylindrical inner wall for developing gas bubbles which diffuse into the stream, iii) controlling the flow of liquid and gas bubbles so that a ratio of liquid flow rate to gas bubble flow rate does not exceed values which convert liquid into froth, iv) the chamber being of a length sufficient to provide a residence time in the chamber which permits a diffusion of gas bubbles in the liquid, and v) allowing a mixture of the liquid and the gas bubbles to exit the chamber near its output end.
 11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the chamber is open at its output end such that the mixture of liquid and gas bubbles directly exits the chamber at the output end.
 12. A process according to claim 10, wherein the chamber is enclosed at the output end such that the mixture of liquid and gas bubbles exits the chamber through a tangential exit port disposed near the chamber's output end.
 13. A process according to claim 10, wherein the porous portion comprises a porosity with a mean pore size of no greater than 100 microns.
 14. A process according to claim 10, wherein as the gas bubbles travel through the chamber they do not expand due to a pressure drop.
 15. A process according to claim 10, wherein a velocity and turbulence of the stream increases as it moves towards the chamber's output end.
 16. A process according to claim 10, wherein the chamber further comprises a controller to open and close a valve to regulate the flow of the liquid into the chamber to prevent the liquid from permeating into the porous portion of the inner wall.
 17. A process for diffusing gas bubbles in a liquid, the process comprising: i) introducing a stream of liquid into a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, wherein the chamber comprises an enclosure at each end, and wherein the stream is introduced tangentially at an input zone of the chamber in a manner to develop a spiral flow of the stream along the cylindrical inner wall toward an opposite, output end of the chamber, ii) introducing gas into the stream during at least a portion of its travel in the chamber, the gas being introduced to the stream orthogonally through a porous portion of the cylindrical inner wall for developing gas bubbles which diffuse into the stream, iii) controlling the flow of the liquid and the gas bubbles so that a ratio of liquid flow rate to gas bubble flow rate does not exceed values which convert liquid into froth, iv) the chamber being of a length sufficient to provide a residence time in the chamber which permits a diffusion of the gas bubbles in the liquid, and v) allowing a mixture of the liquid and the gas bubbles to exit the chamber near its output end.
 18. A process according to claim 17, wherein a turbulence of the stream increases as it moves towards the chamber's output end.
 19. A process according to claim 17, wherein the process is achieved when the chamber is oriented in any and all directions.
 20. A process according to claim 17, wherein the porous portion comprises a porosity with a mean pore size of no greater than 100 microns. 